AM HAILS YEAR OF SUCCESS FOR NEW TREATMENT FUND

Mick Antoniw, Assembly Member for Pontypridd has welcomed the success of the new £80m Treatment Fund in slashing the times new life-changing medicines become available on the NHS in Wales. 82 new medicines have become available in the last year.

This week marks a year of the new Fund and the Welsh Labour Government have revealed the average time for recommended new medicines to be made available was now only 10 days, way ahead of the 60 day deadline.

The fund was one of Welsh Labour’s key pledges at the 2016 Assembly election.

The average time taken for medicines to be made available across Wales reduced to 17 days during the first six months following the introduction of the New Treatment Fund. This has reduced again to 10 days in the second six months of 2017.

Mick Antoniw AM said:
“It is great news that patients in Pontypridd and Taff Ely are benefiting from the Treatment Fund, which isn’t limited to certain conditions, but treats all medicines for all diseases and illnesses equally.

“The Welsh Labour Government moved quickly to implement this manifesto pledge and we are already seeing a major benefit in the first year.”

“I look forward to seeing the fund continuing to quickly deliver the latest, innovative medicines to patients who need them, so that they can make a real difference to their lives.”